Extradition order issued for Deltona man, a former Chilean lieutenant, wanted in killing

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:56 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 10:16 p.m.

DELTONA -- The Chile Supreme Court this week officially asked the United States for the extradition of a former Chilean army lieutenant -- who has a home in Deltona -- charged with murder in that country.

Pedro Pablo Barrientos, 64, served under U.S.-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet, who overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende Sept. 11, 1973.

The extradition petition was granted by the Second Chamber of the Chilean Supreme Court on Wednesday after an appellate magistrate presented the case, said Nelson Caucoto, a human rights lawyer helping Joan Jara -- the widow of victim Victor Jara -- with the extradition petition.

"The Supreme Court heard our arguments Tuesday and on the following day announced its resolution," Caucoto said in an email. "The Supreme Court unanimously approved the petition for the extradition of Pedro Pablo Barrientos."

Barrientos is one of eight former lieutenants charged with the torture, mutilation and murder of Victor Jara, a popular singer and guitarist. Barrientos is the only one of Pinochet's men who has not been arrested, The Associated Press has reported.

Victor Jara was also a theater director and university professor who was rounded up with his students and tortured inside Estadio (Stadium) Chile, now named the Estadio Victor Jara. News reports from the time indicated the butts of guns were used to smash Jara's fingers until they were severed. As part of the torture, Victor Jara was beaten in the head. His body was riddled with at least 44 bullets and dumped on the outskirts of Santiago as a warning to those who challenged Pinochet's rule, reports said.

Last month, Caucoto said that although the military has not been forthcoming with information, the judicial investigation into the case has resulted in death-squad conscripts -- drafted soldiers -- divulging some information about the killing of Victor Jara.

Ballistics tests support the testimony of the conscripts, Caucoto said. A pistol projectile was found at the base of Victor Jara's skull which did not come from machine guns or rifles used by drafted soldiers. The bullet came from a side arm used by officers, he said.

Barrientos has denied the charges in news reports. He claimed in a complaint filed in December with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office that the FBI has cleared him in the killing.

Barrientos' Mercedes-Benz was in his carport at his 1584 Brady Drive home Friday but knocks to his front door went unanswered. A neighbor having a garage sale across the street from the house said Barrientos was home.

Barrientos still lives at the Brady Drive home, where he claims a homestead. On Jan. 16 and 22, Barrientos filed reports with deputies and handed in the business cards reporters left at his door. He complained reporters were still showing up at his home, videoing and taking pictures of his home, according to the reports.

In a report taken by sheriff's deputies Dec. 31, Barrientos claimed he has received death threats by email from another country. In the report, Barrientos said he used to be a lieutenant in the military in Chile. He told deputies that while he was an officer in the military, a famous singer from his country was murdered but he was cleared of any wrongdoing by FBI agents and Chilean authorities, the report states.

An FBI spokesman would not comment on Barrientos' case.

With the decision of the Supreme Court, steps can now be taken to start the extradition process, Caucoto said.

"The Supreme Court said that the United States should take the necessary steps convenient to make the extradition process a successful one," Caucoto said. "This means that the judicial officials in the United States, once they recieve the extradition request, will decide whether it is convenient to detain Barrientos while the extradition process is being discussed."

Now, the Chile Minister of the Exterior will translate the extradition solicitation and send it to the proper authorities in the United States "who will deliver it to the judicial officials there," Caucoto said.

The three Supreme Court justices and a lawyer said the extradition of Barrientos is in compliance with an extradition agreement the United States signed with Chile on April 17, 1900, ratified by both countries July 2, 1935.

The Supreme Court said in its resolution that "taking into consideration the charge brought in the case, as they were presented against Barrientos Nunez ... there is no doubt that it should be brought to light to international human rights in the category of crimes against humanity."

The Supreme Court ended by saying in its resolution that based on the extradition agreement with the United States, it is asking the U.S. government "for the extradition of citizen Pedro Pablo Barrientos Nunez for the responsibility attributed to him as author of the crime of homicide committed on the person of Victor Lidio Jara Martinez on Sept. 16, 1973."

<p>DELTONA -- The Chile Supreme Court this week officially asked the United States for the extradition of a former Chilean army lieutenant -- who has a home in Deltona -- charged with murder in that country.</p><p>Pedro Pablo Barrientos, 64, served under U.S.-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet, who overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende Sept. 11, 1973.</p><p>The extradition petition was granted by the Second Chamber of the Chilean Supreme Court on Wednesday after an appellate magistrate presented the case, said Nelson Caucoto, a human rights lawyer helping Joan Jara -- the widow of victim Victor Jara -- with the extradition petition.</p><p>"The Supreme Court heard our arguments Tuesday and on the following day announced its resolution," Caucoto said in an email. "The Supreme Court unanimously approved the petition for the extradition of Pedro Pablo Barrientos."</p><p>Barrientos is one of eight former lieutenants charged with the torture, mutilation and murder of Victor Jara, a popular singer and guitarist. Barrientos is the only one of Pinochet's men who has not been arrested, The Associated Press has reported.</p><p>Victor Jara was also a theater director and university professor who was rounded up with his students and tortured inside Estadio (Stadium) Chile, now named the Estadio Victor Jara. News reports from the time indicated the butts of guns were used to smash Jara's fingers until they were severed. As part of the torture, Victor Jara was beaten in the head. His body was riddled with at least 44 bullets and dumped on the outskirts of Santiago as a warning to those who challenged Pinochet's rule, reports said.</p><p>Last month, Caucoto said that although the military has not been forthcoming with information, the judicial investigation into the case has resulted in death-squad conscripts -- drafted soldiers -- divulging some information about the killing of Victor Jara.</p><p>Ballistics tests support the testimony of the conscripts, Caucoto said. A pistol projectile was found at the base of Victor Jara's skull which did not come from machine guns or rifles used by drafted soldiers. The bullet came from a side arm used by officers, he said.</p><p> Barrientos has denied the charges in news reports. He claimed in a complaint filed in December with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office that the FBI has cleared him in the killing. </p><p>Barrientos' Mercedes-Benz was in his carport at his 1584 Brady Drive home Friday but knocks to his front door went unanswered. A neighbor having a garage sale across the street from the house said Barrientos was home.</p><p>Barrientos still lives at the Brady Drive home, where he claims a homestead. On Jan. 16 and 22, Barrientos filed reports with deputies and handed in the business cards reporters left at his door. He complained reporters were still showing up at his home, videoing and taking pictures of his home, according to the reports.</p><p>In a report taken by sheriff's deputies Dec. 31, Barrientos claimed he has received death threats by email from another country. In the report, Barrientos said he used to be a lieutenant in the military in Chile. He told deputies that while he was an officer in the military, a famous singer from his country was murdered but he was cleared of any wrongdoing by FBI agents and Chilean authorities, the report states.</p><p>An FBI spokesman would not comment on Barrientos' case.</p><p>With the decision of the Supreme Court, steps can now be taken to start the extradition process, Caucoto said.</p><p>"The Supreme Court said that the United States should take the necessary steps convenient to make the extradition process a successful one," Caucoto said. "This means that the judicial officials in the United States, once they recieve the extradition request, will decide whether it is convenient to detain Barrientos while the extradition process is being discussed."</p><p>Now, the Chile Minister of the Exterior will translate the extradition solicitation and send it to the proper authorities in the United States "who will deliver it to the judicial officials there," Caucoto said.</p><p>The three Supreme Court justices and a lawyer said the extradition of Barrientos is in compliance with an extradition agreement the United States signed with Chile on April 17, 1900, ratified by both countries July 2, 1935.</p><p>The Supreme Court said in its resolution that "taking into consideration the charge brought in the case, as they were presented against Barrientos Nunez ... there is no doubt that it should be brought to light to international human rights in the category of crimes against humanity."</p><p>The Supreme Court ended by saying in its resolution that based on the extradition agreement with the United States, it is asking the U.S. government "for the extradition of citizen Pedro Pablo Barrientos Nunez for the responsibility attributed to him as author of the crime of homicide committed on the person of Victor Lidio Jara Martinez on Sept. 16, 1973."</p>